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The differences between development technicians and software developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a development technician and a software developer. Additionally, a development technician has an average salary of $92,109, which is higher than the $87,521 average annual salary of a software developer.
The top three skills for a development technician include java, C++ and C #. The most important skills for a software developer are java, python, and C++.
| Development Technician | Software Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,109 | $87,521 |
| Hourly rate | $44.28 | $42.08 |
| Growth rate | 21% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 82,959 | 294,329 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A development technician is an individual who manages technology development for hardware used in the server systems of an organization. Development technicians are required to organize tasks and resources so that they can complete work and meet deadlines that are according to departmental procedures. They must train production personnel on the standard operating procedures for manufacturing equipment as well as train colleagues in standard operating procedures. Development technicians must also assist Java developers in characterizing and debugging technical problems.
A software developer is responsible for designing application systems to support the user and business' needs. Duties of a software developer include testing software codes, performing diagnostic programs and troubleshooting, interpreting system data and establishing efficient parameters, and ensuring the compatibility of the systems. A software developer must have an excellent knowledge of computer programs and programming languages to understand its complexities, especially on detecting system defects and malfunctions. A software developer must have strong attention to detail, communication, and decision-making skills to coordinate with the team and also work independently under minimal supervision.
Development technicians and software developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Development Technician | Software Developer | |
| Average salary | $92,109 | $87,521 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $134,000 | Between $67,000 And $113,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between a development technician and a software developer in terms of educational background:
| Development Technician | Software Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 58% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between development technicians' and software developers' demographics:
| Development Technician | Software Developer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.6% Female, 32.4% | Male, 79.3% Female, 20.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.0% Asian, 30.0% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.2% Asian, 29.9% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |